Mud rail support assembly

ABSTRACT

A support assembly is disclosed for holding a mud rail in predetermined spatial relationship to a main running rail, the apparatus finding a particular use at railroad crossings. The mud rail support, commonly called a mud rail chair, includes a main support base which is welded to a conventional rail tie plate with the base being welded on the tie plate at a position such that the mud rail will be spaced the desired distance from the main running rail. The support assembly includes an outer flange receptacle having an opening adapted to receive one edge of the flange of the mud rail and includes a portion which partly covers the upper edge of the flange. A locking plate arm extends laterally from the support base at a position opposite the flange receptacle and includes a substantially vertical edge adapted to engage the outer flange of the mud rail. The small vertical edge serves to hold the mud rail in position temporarily with a locking plate then being secured to the arm via a bolt and nut assembly so that the mud rail is then firmly held in position on the mud rail chair. Construction details of the support assembly and a preferred method of utilizing the same are disclosed.

States Ptent i 1 momma [72] lnventors Lutillus L. S. Nelson;

Minoru Suyama, both of Seattle, Wash.

[21] Appl. No. 819,686 [22] Filed Apr. 28, 1969 [45] Patented Sept. 28, 19711 [73] Assignee Nelson Iron Works Seattle, Wash.

[54] MUD RAllL SUPPORT ASSEMBLY 2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 238/20 [51] lnt.Cl E011 5/18 [50] Field of Search 238/17-22, 125, 336

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,024,110 12/1935 ONeill 238/20 3,337,131 8/1967 Nelson 238/20 1,240,408 9/1917 Betts 238/20 Primary Examiner-Arthur L. La Point Assistant Examiner-Richard A. Bertsch Att0rney-Christensen & Sanborn ABSTRACT: A support assembly is disclosed for holding a mud rail in predetermined spatial relationship to a main running rail, the apparatus finding a particular use at railroad crossings. The mud rail support, commonly called a mud rail chair, includes a main support base which is welded to a conventional rail tie plate with the base being welded on the tie plate at a position such that the mud rail will be spaced the desired distance from the main running rail. The support assembly includes an outer flange receptacle having an opening adapted to receive one edge of the flange of the mud rail and includes a portion which partly covers the upper edge of the flange. A locking plate arm extends laterally from the support base at a position opposite the flange receptacle and includes a substantially vertical edge adapted to engage the outer flange of the mud rail. The small vertical edge serves to hold the mud rail in position temporarily with a locking plate then being secured to the arm via a bolt and nut assembly so that the mud rail is then firmly held in position on the mud rail chair. Construction details of the support assembly and a preferred method of utilizing the same are disclosed.

MUD lRAllL SUPPORT ASSEMBLY At railroad crossings or like areas where wheeled vehicles such as automobiles cross railway rails, it is common practice to install mud guards, which are often steel rails of the same type as the running rails, but of smaller size, being frequently rails that have served their usefulness as running rails, and have been taken up. These rails when so installed are termed mud rails. When properly installed, at the inner side of a running rail, with the head of the mud rail level with the head of the running rail, and the two heads correctly spaced laterally, a space or slot is defined within which the flange of a wheel traversing the running rail can run. Differing from guardrails that engage and retain the flange of a wheel, opposite the point where two rails cross, against lateral shifting that might incorrectly divert the crossing wheel along the wrong track, mud rails are so spaced from the cooperating running rail that the wheel of a car traversing the running rail does not engage the mud rail. The mud rails function is to hold back paving material intermediate running rails at a crossing, just as the running rails hold back such material outside thereof, and so to provide a slot for wheel flanges and a smooth and nondeteriorating crossing, level with the heads of all rails, for wheeled road vehicles such as trucks. Since the mud rail is not subjected to severe lateral stresses, such as those imposed upon a guardrail by the wheels of cars traversing the running rails, the construction and installation of a mud rail support is materially different from those of supports for a guardrail, and the mud rail installation generally will not suffice as a guardrail installation. It should be relatively inexpensive, both in material cost and in cost of installation.

Such crossings sometimes occur at locations along a curved running rail. The mud rails are supplied in straight lengths, and must be distorted in or prior to installation so as to conform in curvature to the running rail. Because the mud rails are initially straight, and because of the simple structure preferred for the mud rail support, it has been found difficult to install a mud rail thus distorted to the correct curvature, whether the mud rail is precurved, which is impracticable, or is distorted during the process of installation.

It is thus an object of the present invention to provide an improved mud rail support. Another object of the present invention is to provide a mud rail support which permits the installation of mud rails using fewer men than has generally been required in the art, particularly during the installation of mud rails adjacent to curved track sections.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a combination tie plate and mud rail chair assembly which includes means for holding a mud rail temporarily in position after the mud rail has been located in the chair to thereby permit installation of mud rails using a minimum number of men for the installation process.

The above and additional advantages and objects of the inventions are achieved through the use of a mud rail chair or support assembly which is welded to and forms part of a tie plate. A first flange receptacle located near the main rail support portion of the tie plate holds the outer flange of the mud rail during as well as after positioning of the mud rail in the support assembly. A temporary holding edge located opposite the outer flange receptacle serves to temporarily hold the inner flange of the mud rail in position during assembly of the mud rail adjacent to the running rail. A slot in the arm of the chair is so related to the inner flange of the mud rail that it is then a simple matter for a person to slide a bolt and plate assembly into position on the arm and tighten the locking plate into a position of engagement with the upper surface of the inner flange. Due to the absence of any substantial vertical protuberance on the arm of the chair over which the mud rail must pass during assembly, and due to the temporary locking surface on the arm, it is found in practice that the installation of a mud rail on a curved crossing becomes a relatively simple procedure compared to such installations using prior art mud rail chairs.

Additional advantages and features of the invention will be more clearly understood from the following description when read with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FlG. l is a perspective view illustrating a mud rail being installed adjacent to a curved section of track utilizing the novel mud rail support assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the novel mud rail support assembly.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation, partially sectioned, showing the installation of a mud rail in the new mud rail support assembly.

FIG. 4i is a side elevation of the combination mud rail support and tie plate assembly showing the running rail and the mud rail in cross section in their positions after installation.

Where reference is made herein to inner or outer flanges or sides of any rail it is to be understood that the inner flange is the flange nearest the opposite running rail and the outer flange is the flange opposite such inner flange. Thus in the case of a mud rail the outer flange is adjacent the running rail nearest to the mud rail. The mud rails are installed at the inner sides of the running rails with which they respectively cooperate. The mud rails are installed with their heads uppermost and rest upon their flanges. The head of a mud rail should be at the same level as the head of the cooperating running rail with the two heads spaced apart by a distance sufficiently in excess of the thickness of the flange of a wheel traversing the running rail to avoid contact of the wheel flange with the mud rail. So installed the head of the running rail is sufficiently near the head of the mud rail to avoid any substantial bump being imparted to an automobile wheel as it rolls across the mud rail and running rail heads.

As seen in FIG. 4 the running rail 10 is provided with a flange 1111 which is positioned between the vertical abutments l2 and 13 on the tie plate M. For purposes of teaching the present invention the tie plate 114 is shown as being of the canted type. Spikes l5 pass through appropriate openings in the tie plate 114 to not only hold the tie plate onto the tie to but also to hold the running rail lltl onto the tie plate. The road surface material 118 is illustrated as being packed closely against the outer edge of the running rail since a grade crossing is being illustrated in FIG. 41. The mud rail 20 is shown as being spaced from the running rail ill) by a distance sufficient to permit movement of the flange ofa wheel between the heads of the running and mud rails without engaging the mud rail.

The novel mud rail support is shown as including a heavy body section 30 which is welded at 31 to the upper surface of the tie plate 114. A first lug 32 in the form ofa hooklike projection extends upwardly from the main body 30 and includes a lateral portion 32A which is adapted to overlie the outer flange 20A of the mud rail 20. Thus it will be seen that the hook 32 defines a flange receptacle or opening adapted to receive the outer flange 20A of the mud rail 20 both during and after installation of the mud rail. This is best seen in FIG. 3 wherein the mud rail is shown in a dotted line position during installation of the mud rail in the support assembly.

The mud rail chair includes a second upwardly and outwardly extending portion 42 adapted to receive the inner flange 20B of the mud rail. The arm 42 has a vertical surface 42A which is positioned opposite and spaced from the vertical surface 328 of the lug 32 by a distance corresponding generally to the width of the flange of the mud rail 20. As seen in FIG. 3 the mud rail 20 is held in position between the surfaces 32B and 42A during the installation process. This temporary holding feature of the surface 42A is particularly important during the installation of a mud rail adjacent a curved section of track as illustrated in FIG. 1. Therein it will be seen that the mud rail 20 will tend to move laterally away from the adjacent running rail during installation due to the tension created in the mud rail when it is being bent into its position adjacent to the running rail. This tension in the mud rail is used to advantage in the new chair assembly since once the mud rail is slipped into position it will tend to remain in position due to the pressure exerted by the flange 208 against the surface 42A. A web 30A formed as part of the chair 30 beneath the arm 42 adds strength to the assembly.

After the mud rail has been positioned in the manner indicated in FIG. 3 a locking plate 50 and associated bolt 51 passing through a hole in the plate 50 is slid into the position illustrated in FIG. 4. The right edge of the plate 50 engages a second vertical surface 42B on the lug 42 when the plate 50 has been positioned over the flange 203. When the heavy nut 52 is tightened it will be seen that the plate 50 will be deformed slightly due to the pressure exerted thereon giving rise to a firm-locking arrangement as illustrated in FIG. 4. The generally rectangular opening 42C in the lower surface of the lug 42 is dimensioned for holding the head 51A of the bolt 51 against rotation during tightening of the nut 52. As best seen in FIG. 2 the lug 42 (also referred to as an arm) has a vertical slot 42D which receives the body of the bolt 51 during assembly of the apparatus. Therefore it will be seen that the arrangement permits rapid assembly of the plate 50 over the flange 208. This is of particular importance when a curved track installation is being made.

It is of importance to note that the arm 42 which holds the inner flange 20B during assembly and also receives the locking plate 50 and bolt 51 has no substantial vertical extensions. In the particular embodiment shown the surface 42A corresponds to the thickness of flange 20B and surface 428 corresponds to the thickness of plate 50. Thus the problem encountered with prior art devices in the installation of a mud rail on a curved section of track as described in detail in US. Pat. No. 3,337,131 to Nelson is avoided. The mud rail support of the present invention represents an improvement on the mud rail support disclosed and claimed in said patent, particularly in view of the temporary holding function performed by the edge 42A and the rapid assembly permitted by the use of the bolt and plate shown in the drawings. It will be recognized that the mud rail support of the present invention reduces the elevation and twisting of the mud rail required to position the mud rail in the mud rail support and hence the torsional forces encountered during installation of the mud rail are reduced.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a rail chair having a walled groove in the upper face thereof, a mud rail having an upright web and pposing flanges along the bottom thereof, resting on the chair with the flanged bottom thereof seated in the groove, and hook means projecting inwardly toward the web of the rail from the walls of the groove, in overlying relationship with the flanges of the rail, to clamp the rail to the chair, the walls of the groove being spaced apart by substantially the breadth of the flanged bottom of the rail, and one of the walls being substantially vertically upstanding from the bottom of the groove and terminating at the top of the groove in a stepped shoulder having one portion substantially coplanar with the upper face of the adjacent flange of the rail, the hook means on said one wall being separate from the chair and including a bendable plate overlying the adjacent flange of the mud rail and abutted endwise against the step of said shoulder, and bolt means for clamping the plate to the chair in the abutted condition thereof, said shoulder being formed by a laterally projecting arm of the chair which has a raised lip at the outlying end thereof, and a longitudinally extending slot therein which is open to the end to allow the bolt to be inserted crosswise along the length of the slot.

2. A support for clamping a mud rail into position adjacent a running rail, comprising a rail chair having a walled groove in the upper face thereof, the walls of which are spaced apart by substantially the breadth of the flanged bottom of a mud rail, hook means projecting inwardly toward the centerline of the groove from the walls thereof, to overlie the flanges of the mud rail and to clamp the rail to the chair when the bottom thereof is seated in the groove, one of the walls of the groove being substantially vertically upstanding from the bottom of the groove and terminating at the top of the groove in a stepped shoulder having a portion disposed to be substantially coplanar with the upper face of the adjacent flange of the rail, the hook means on said one wall including a bendable plate which is separate from the chair but adapted to be abutted endwise against the step of the shoulder and boltable to the chair to overlie the adjacent flange of the mud rail, and means for clamping the latter hook means to the chair when the hook means is in the abutted condition thereof. 

1. In combination, a rail chair having a walled groove in the upper face thereof, a mud rail having an upright web and opposing flanges along the bottom thereof, resting on the chair with the flanged bottom thereof seated in the groove, and hook means projecting inwardly toward the web of the rail from the walls of the groove, in overlying relationship with the flanges of the rail, to clamp the rail to the chair, the walls of the groove being spaced apart by substantially the breadth of the flanged bottom of the rail, and one of the walls being substantially vertically upstanding from the bottom of the groove and terminating at the top of the groove in a stepped shoulder having one portion substantially coplanar with the upper face of the adjacent flange of the rail, the hook means on said one wall being separate from the chair and including a bendable plate overlying the adjacent flange of the mud rail and abutted endwise against the step of said shoulder, and bolt means for clamping the plate to the chair in the abutted condition thereof, said shoulder being formed by a laterally projecting arm of the chair which has a raised lip at the outlying end thereof, and a longitudinally extending slot therein which is open to the end to allow the bolt to be inserted crosswise along the length of the slot.
 2. A support for clamping a mud rail into position adjacent a running rail, comprising a rail chair having a walled groove in the upper face thereof, the walls of which are spaced apart by substantially the breadth of the flanged bottom of a mud rail, hook means projecting inwardly toward the centerline of the groove from the walls thereof, to overlie the flanges of the mud rail and to clamp the rail to the chair when the bottom thereof is seated in the groove, one of the walls of the groove being substantially vertically upstanding from the bottom of the groove and terminating at the top of the groove in a stepped shoulder having a portion disposed to be substantially coplanar with the upper face of the adjacent flange of the rail, the hook means on said one wall including a bendable plate which is separate from the chair but adapted to be abutted endwise against the step of the shoulder and boltable to the chair to overlie the adjacent flange of the mud rail, and means for clamping the latter hook means to the chair when the hook means is in the abutted condition thereof. 